TOWN UNLUCKY AS FA TROPHY RUN IS OVER

Whitstable Town’s run in the FA Carlsberg Trophy came to an end thanks to a last minute Ebbsfleet United goal at the Belmont on Saturday.

The early exchanges were even with few chances until the 13th minute when Michael Thalasittis sent a header just wide of the Whitstable goal. Within two minutes Thalasittis had another chance when he broke through but his shot went wide. However Whitstable continued to have their share of the play and took the lead after 18 minutes when Dan Keyte picked up the ball and shot from outside the penalty area. The ball beat England C keeper Preston Edwards and went into the corner of the net to the delight of the home supporters. After 25 minutes Scott Heard put in a ball to Laurence Harvey but his shot was saved easily by Edwards. Fleet striker Billy Bricknell should have done better with two opportunities. Firstly after 31 minutes he scuffed a shot wide of the target and then eight minutes later he

Ebbsfleet equalise

hooked the ball high over the bar. Town continued to counter and after 41 minutes a weak shot by Ollie Brown was easily collected by Edwards. Then came the equaliser from the visitors as Anthony Cook cut in from the right and fired a shot past Luke Watkins. The score line at half time was a fair reflection of the balance of play.

The second period started with Town pressing. Within a minute of the restart the ever dangerous Jake Mackenzie hit a shot over the bar. Within four minutes Town were unlucky when Harvey hit a shot which looked goal bound until it hit Mackenzie and went away. Cook was back in the action on 56 minutes in a similar attack to his equaliser but as his shot was magnificently saved by man of the match Watkins. On the hour Mackenzie was again in the play but his shot went just wide of the target and with Town now on top he had another chance on 72 minutes when he could not quite get the ball under control and he shot tamely at Edwards. Despite Whitstable looking more dangerous, Ebbsfleet were still

Luke Watkins saves

creating chances and Cook again cut in after 74 minutes but his shot went wide. With seven minutes to go more heroics from home keeper Watkins when he pushed a Cook shot onto the post and Ross Webb cleared up the danger. With two minutes to go Edwards made an excellent save as his pushed the ball over the bar from a Heard shot. As the game appeared to going to a replay a sucker punch hit the Town as Ebbsfleet’s Thalasittis put in a shot come cross which looped over Watkins at the near post in to the far corner of the net to give Ebbsfleet the match.

It was a disappointing end to the game but should not deflect from Town’s great FA trophy adventure this season.